“My task is not to debate whether I’m a Jew or not, but to figure out what kind of Jew I am. For me, finding a secular Jewish community with progressive politics fits my version of that identity.”
Shule Teachers
Alef (K/1): Sarit Luban is a recent graduate of Brandeis University, and she brings her experience working with children and her passion for environmental justice to our Alef class. Sarit worked this past year with volunteers at the Food Project, and has taught and tutored in her home city of Ames Iowa. She will be applying her skills to the holiday curriculum and the environmental social justice theme of the Alef class.
Beyz (2): Joanna Packer is returning to the Beyz classroom this year, and will continue to teach our second graders about legends of the Jewish people. A graduate of Brown, Joanna currently works as a case manager in a re-entry program for ex-offenders. Joanna spent a year in Israel as a New Israel Fund Social Justice Fellow working with African refugees. Previously, she lived in New York City as a participant in Avodah, the Jewish Service Corps. During Avodah, she taught Jewish education to pre-schoolers and in a school-aged after school program.
Giml (3): Amanda Hoffman is a recent Brandeis graduate who just completed a summer working at the World Fellowship Center in New Hampshire. Amanda has a Jewish Day School background and an interest in education and social justice. Amanda has a natural affinity for children, and will be leading our Giml students though the Ellis Island immigration experience, learning the Hebrew/Yiddish Alphabet, and connecting with recent immigrants.
Daled (4): Elissa Schechner is returning for her third year of teaching the Daled class. Elissa is a certified teacher, and is continuing her graduate studies this year at Lesley University. Elissa will be working with our Daled students as they discover Jewish communities around the world.
Hey (5): Darya Mattes participated in a Jewish Women’s Archive Institute for Educators last summer, and has adapted several units of their curriculum “Living the Legacy, Jews in the Civil Rights Movement” for use with the Hey class. Darya is also a graduate of Avodah, and she currently works at Equal Exchange in the Interfaith Program. Darya is returning for her third year of teaching the Hey class.
Vov (6): Rachie Lewis comes to the Workmen’s Circle from New York City, where she just completed a year at Yeshivat Hadar. Previous to that she was a member of Avodah, the Jewish Service Corps, and spent a year in the New Orleans Public Defenders Office. Rachie is a Brandeis graduate, and is passionate about social justice, education, and community building. She is excited about our Vov curriculum and continuing to work on a blog exchange with Bedouin students in the Negev.
Zayin (7): Jenn Lindsay just received a Masters in Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. Her degree emphasis was in Interfaith Relations and Ecumenics, specifically with regard to the role of religion in personal relationships. She will be starting a PhD program at BU in Religious Studies. She is also an accomplished musician, has worked extensively with young people, and is active in the Jewish LGBTQ community. She is very excited about working with our Zayin students as they explore their own Jewish identity.
Music: David Ladon has been teaching at Shule since 2008. He teaches at Pierce School Extended Day in Brookline specializing in activity based learning and cooperative games. This past summer he was the art and music teacher at The Children's English Language Institute, a K-8 summer program for English language learners. He also writes and records music with a few local bands, including The Doctors Fox and Animal Farm, the latter of which plays kids music about community and self-expression.
